Roberto Carlos Lange has been busy during quarantine. This past summer saw the release of his Kite Symphony EP, which he created while in Marfa, Texas over the summer; and now, as Helado Negro, Lange has unveiled his first release on 4AD as a cover of Neil Young’s “Lotta Love.”
The song, which already features the haunting vocal appearance of Flock of Dimes (Jenn Wasner), also boasts the presence of Devendra Banhart and Trey Pollard on backing vocals and piano. Something spectacular happens at the intersection of Lange and Wasner’s sublimely melancholic cries, and there’s a certain, overwhelming tug at the heartstrings with every sonorous harmony and glowing piano tremble.
The transformation of the song into a ballad-like hymn, one that replaces guitar-led medley with a waning piano, ends up making this cover of “Lotta Love” a profoundly affecting alternate to the original.
“I was captivated by the song’s sincerity and wondered how to make a version that compelled you to step closer to the words,” Roberto Carlos Lange said in a statement. “I wanted it to be hymnal and spiritual outside of religion. I interpreted the theme of the song to be about protection. How do we protect each other? Creating this version helped me find some sonic respite and hopefully it does the same for others.”
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